What a great reading month and video! Totally agree with what you said about manga! I read manga for the first time late last month and was really impressed! Never thought I’d enjoy it but I was pleasantly surprised!

Wow, what an awesome month you've had! I really love those first three A Song of Ice and Fire books, and Dresden Files is one of my favorite series of all time. And you're on Changes! That makes me so happy!

Such a solid reading month you had! Now I’m definitely going to add Lies of Locke Lamora to my pile this month 👍

That’s a great reading month! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Changes!

Wow, Alex what an amazing month you had! If I had to pick one book right now as my top fantasy book it would be A Storm of Swords. I wish I could have gotten to Ember Blade, but didn't think I would have had it read by the Readathon deadline date. So it's a definite May read. Go Barbarians!!

Guy gavriel is in my top 5 favorite authors of all time, Lions of Al-Rassan is my second favorite book by him try a song for arbonne, tigana, a brightness long ago, under heaven or the Sarantine Mosaic.

Goodness gracious what a stacked month! Thrilled you loved the two Dresden books, and it only gets better from there which is hard to believe! I tried out the first arc of Berserk last year and it was ok but it didn’t really grab me in, so I really need to continue to see what’s going on in the Golden Age arc. You have me pumped for Way of Edan and Leo Carew and GGK, and glad you also loved Legend!

That is simple incredible what you've been able to pull off for April. Awesome month dude! My favorite read for April was The Gallant novella by Janny Wurts, followed closely by The Way of Edan.

Thank you for adding further inspiration to pick up Lions and always exciting me about getting back to Hobb! Loved your thoughts on The Way of Edan! I agree that the religious conflicts were complex and intriguing. I remember the last 250 pages or so of Lies of Locke Lamora-so thrilling! The ASOS discussion was a blast, and I look forward to all future ASOIAF discussions!

That is one hell of a reading month! So glad your enjoying the Dresden Files. I’m getting ready to start the Shadow Casket and hoping it keeps up the good work and foundation that Ember Blade started.

Of everything I have ever read in my life, nothing sticks in my head more than Berserk. I finished golden age in December and had to wait a couple months before starting conviction. Some heavy stuff went down that I don’t think I will ever be able to forget

What a stacked month!! And so many bangers, I love that for you!! Really happy to hear that The Lies of Locke Lamora was a hit for you, I desperately want to re-read it! And HECK YES for Assassin's Fate, I can't get enough of all of your gushing hahaha 🤪 Also, I have only read A Song for Arbonne by GGK, but just from reading that one I am not surprised at all that his writing style works so well for you. I think he has a lot of cross-over appeal for Hobb fans, so seems like you have tons of good GGK books to fill up the Hobb void now that you've finished RotE hahaha. Great wrap-up Alex, hope May will be just as good, if not better!! 🤩

The Small Favor - Turn Coat - Changes run is a triple header of bangers. Still hasn't been topped by the rest of the series, to me. Now one more book until you can say "just wait until Changes" with the rest of us.

Can't believe this was all in a month haha, absolute BANGERS all through

I'm glad you had such a good reading month😃 I can't pick just one favourite book from April but I can narrow it down to 3: The Way of Kings, The Death of Vivek Oji, and Tender is the Flesh. My biggest disappointments were Gideon the Ninth, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.

Great video Alex! I want to try GGK, but I’m planning to start with Tigana. I’m glad you enjoyed Lions of Al Rassan. Way of Edan was really impressive.

What a month!! Oh man, I can't wait to read The Realm of the Elderlings, Red Rising and Gentleman Bastard series!! I really have to get to them. Legend sounds really good too, LOVE the retro cover! Great wrap-up as always!

Good video and what a great month of reading you had. My Book-of-the-Month was cold days, Dresden files, book number 14. Can’t wait to hear what you think of changes.

Absolutely huge month, Ass Fate is probably book of the year for anyone who reads it tbh. My book of the month was Dark Age, and right now I have it as my favorite book I've read this year so far. Having a lot of fun reading Red Rising, MST, and Drenai all at once. You've got a lot of great GGK ahead. Lions was my first and the best is yet to come, he's really consistent and I also love the historical fantasy that he does. He's one that I plan on reading everything from eventually.

I read Lions a few years ago and am still thinking about it.

Yo I’m excited to read Lions, and Small Favor is fun so far!!!

Hi 👋 liked ur wrap up video.. I hope u got some great books in ur May reads too???….happy reading to you… 📖

"Way of Edan" was a blast! Loved the many nods to real life history and myths, Tolkien, Le Guin, Robert Jordan, Lloyd Alexander etc.: The name Dayraven is actually from "Beowulf": It is the name of a Frankish Standard Bearer killed by Beowulf in a “bear-hug” during the Geatish King Hygelac’s Raid on Frisia (North Coast of Modern Day Netherlands). Professor Chase mentioning “Beowulf”: “I’m shocked, shocked I tell you!» 😂! Some other "easter eggs" are Imharr (Imar/Imhar: An Irish male name, and the name for Ivar Boneless (Viking King of Dublin and son of Ragnar Lodbrok) in Irish Chronicles), Urd (one of the Norns, the weavers of fate, «past»/ «origin»: A good name for an old crone!), Guthere (Anglo Saxon form of Gundahar/Gunnar/Gunther: A legendary king of Burgundy in the German Epic Poem "Nibelunglied", the Norse "Volsung" Saga and Richard Wagner's "Ring Cycle", *cue "Ride of the Valkyries"*!), Oswy (Oswiu, a 7th Century Anglo Saxon King of Northumbria), Bagsac (Bagsecg, one of the commanders of the Great Heathen Army), Dragvandil (The name of the Sword to the famous Viking and Skald Egil Skallagrimson from the Icelandic Sagas, as well as a Grimes-tune and a “Final Fantasy” weapon!), Orvandil (Aurvandil 1) Father of Thor’s stepson Ull, gets a frozen toe, which Thor turn into a star, possibly Venus (“the morning star”), Sirius, Rigel or Alcor 2) Jutish King and father of Amleth (Hamlet) in the Danish Chronicle “Gesta Danorum” by Saxo 3) Origin of Tolkien’s Earendel, father of Elrond and the first king of Numenor Elros) and Galdor (2 of Tolkien's Elves of Middleearth: A Noldorian Lord at “The Fall of Gandolin” and the Representative of Ciridan of the Grey Havens at Elrond’s Council in Rivendell in "FOTR". The Wizard Galdor in ElLond=Galdor, member of ElRond’s Council as representative of the Grey Havens: I see what the Good Professor did there😉!) And I loved the nods to "Beowulf", "Finn & Hengist", the tale of Kullervo from the "Kalevala" and Wagner's "Ring Cycle" about the heroes Seigfried and Brunhilde, in the in-universe story of Wilfar and Aelfscyn! I was prepared for epic battles and good writing in "Legend", but the humanity of Gemmell's characters (of both good and bad) is genuinely inspirational even to this day! Orrin is perhaps the clearest example to my mind, who by a lesser writer could have so easily been turned into a paper cut stereotype character: Gemmell gives him an arc that almost brought tears to my eyes! Gemmell’s themes of Perseverance and Courage do indeed gain an extra dimension, knowing he was battling Cancer when writing this story and survived for decades and multiple stories later! Ah, my man GGK! While it is not a requirement to enjoy «Lions», it’s fun to have read «Ivanhoe» and watched «El Cid» (the 1961 film with Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren) or other works set in Moorish Spain, as there are clear historical and literary references and influences (with the main characters inspired by Rebecca of York, El Cid and Muhammed ibn Ammar), with the standard GGK «quarter turn» for drama and suspense even for history buffs! Definitely recommend listening to the soundtrack of «El Cid» by Miklos Rozsa while reading «Lions»! Can recommend checking out "A Song for Arbonne" (a personal favorite, especially the main pov Blaise), "Tigana" (GGK's best world building and his most complex antagonist) and "The Sarrantine Mosaic" (a duology set in a Byzantine-like nation in the same wolrd of Al-Rassan a couple of centuries earlier)! I had a decent reading month (for me at least). I including "Way of Edan" I finished: «Gurzil» by I, Anonymous (short Self-Pub inspired by Arthurian Myth with Biblical and Historical elements) «The Farthest Shore» by Ursula Le Guin (Book 3# in the «Earthsea» series, I was inspired to read it after finishing «Way of Edan» and «In the Grip of the Minotaur» last month) «Ghost Fleet» by PW Singer and August Cole (Tech Thriller of a potential future war between China and USA, with Chinese occupation of Hawaii and US resistance fighters) «The Years» by Annie Ernaux (A paragraph-mosaic book of the Nobel Prize Winner’s memories from the 1940’s to the 2000’s, with personal experiences mixed with her experience of larger cultural and political events). I have already finished «The Dervish House» by Ian McDonald (Cyberpunk (& borderline Magic Realism?) set in Turkey in «THE FUTURE OF 2027» (published in 2011). I really enjoy how he chooses to set a lot of his Cyberpunk Novels in unusual settings for the genre: Turkey, India and Brazil, and he created a Moon Colony in the «Luna»-Trilogy unlike most other takes!) this week, so I am currently alternating between these books: «The Veiled Throne» by Ken Liu (Book #3 in the "Dandelion Dynasty" Series: What a prologue! Already in my top 3 reads of the year so far!) «The Little Emperors» by Alfred Duggan (My digital read: Set around the Roman retreat from Britain, a Civil Administrator is dodging plots of Imperial Pretenders and Assasinations).

I love Lies of Locke Lamora! That series is such a blast. I really need to read something by Guy Gavriel Kay. I've heard nothing but good things about his books and they sound like somethingi would like

Hey, you changed your shelves! Looking good! Yeah, my reading month was significantly less spectacular in terms of volume. I was well satisfied with the quality, however. I'd read: 1. A Little Hatred by Abercrombie 2. Foundation's Edge by Asimov 3. The Trouble with Peace by Abercrombie. TTwP was easily the book of the month - what a spectacular book 2 of a trilogy that was... WOW! I really enjoyed all 3, however.

Try Tigana by GGK, you won't be disappointed. It also has big historical significance with the themes it is exploring and one of best anti-hero you cannot help, but really like.

Great to hear your thoughts on Ember Blade and Locke Lamora! Both have been on my tbr for a while. Of the two, which would you recommend prioritizing first? Locke Lamora probably intimidates me a little more, just because the writing style felt denser when I checked out the first chapter. But I'm hoping I'll love both series, especially the friendship elements!

Hell yes, Lions of Al-Rassan!!! In April I read: *Fantasy* Greatcoats 3: Saint's Blood Greatcoats 4: Tyrant's Throne - Fantastic conclusion to the series. I still don't see where the First Law comparisons are coming from. The Slow Regard of Silent Things / Patrick Rothfuss - It was fine. I like Auri as a character but I don't think this needed to be a novella. Maybe a short story. Normally I'll take a novella over a short story any day. *Sci-Fi* Red Rising / Pierce Brown (re-read) - I seemed to like this book better than most on 1st read and its even better the 2nd time. I'm currently re-reading Golden Son. A few weeks ago I put a pause on my Malazan Book of the Fallen re-read and I think I went in a bit too soon to start a re-read (I'm loving it, I just wasn't prioritising it and it kept getting more lost in the shuffle) so I think I'm going to get caught up on the rest of the Malazan universe first after listening to a recent Erikson interview that has me impatient to start Kharkanas and Witness. As well as continue in Esslemont's books.

Incredible month! Golden Age Arc, Lions of Al-Rassan, Lies of Locke Lamora make for a packed month on their own! I started Last Light of the Sun yesterday and the first chapter had awesome easter eggs connecting back to Lions. If you need an extra for a Lions discussion definitely let me know! It’s a book with easily a trilogy’s worth of potential for discussion

Jeez, Alex... calm down, so many books! But seriously, awesome month. Glad Lions really hit for you. Disappointment of the month for me was Tress... I think im the only one who didnt like that book. Surprise of the month, was Eversion by Alastair Reynolds. Loved it!

💜💜

My favorite book of April was Shadows Linger by Glen Cook, book two in The Black Company. And I read some serious bangers that I loved like Hunger of the Gods and Project Hail Mary, but Shadows Linger, and the Black Company series in general, is just so unique and imaginative, it gets super weird in the best way. It's not traditional classic 80s fantasy at all, it's so different than anything else I've read. Steven Erikson has a blurb on the back of the bindups that says "like reading Vietnam War fiction on peyote." Which sums it up pretty well. 😂 See, I'm capable of not gushing about Dresden every time it's mentioned in a video. It's hard, but I can do it.

My favorite book in April is Delilah green doesn't care I absolutely had a blast reading this book it's one of my favorite reads of 2023 My least favorite book is The path of daggers by Robert Jordan

YESSSS DRUUUUUSSSSSS

This top 2 is approved by me.

I didn't know you were also part of the TBR Blitz! What team did you join? The TBR Blitz put me in a bit of a slump because of the amount of sff books I had to read for it. Normally I read a bunch of different genres in between as palate cleansers, I need a cool down period haha. For the TBR blitz I read, Mad Ship Empire of Silence, The One, Parable of the Talents and Laevium. Besides that I also read Village of Eight Graves (I loooove Seishi Yokomizo's books), The Book of Yokai and 20.000 Leagues Under the Sea and Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians. My favourites were definitely Mad Ship and Village of Eight Graves (though I prefer Ship of Magic). Biggest disappointment was Empire of Silence. I don't know if it was due to the readathon slump or my high expectations, but I struggled with the book. I will continue with the series, but I'm not in a rush. Worst read (2.5 stars) for me was 20.000 Leagues Under the Sea. It wasn't bad... just a bit boring at times. Too many descriptions of fish 😅

April was a down month for me. Not in quality- just in terms of what I hoped to get to. I read only 3 books in April - Emperor of Ruin by Django Wexler, Secret Project #2 by Brandon Sanderson and A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin. I am also doing a ASOIF re-read, and I finished ACoK today- and I am debating whether I want to go straight through or not. Typically thats how I read but I might want to mix it up. That said, A Storm of Swords is one of my favorites too. Thinking of reading Untethered Sky or Nettle and Bone as a palette cleanser. Not sure.

My best reads of the month were the first part of the trilogy Täällä Pohjantähden alla by Väinö Linna, A Betrayal in Winter by Daniel Abraham, and The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay. Well, I didn't finish any Robin Hobb series this month like you 😀. My worst read was Ödets svärd by Andrzej Sapkowski, the second short story collection of the Witcher series (in Swedish translation). I liked the first one, but in this I hated two stories, two were middling, and I found only two to be good (maybe one was very good). Have you read any of the Witcher novels? And are they better? My biggest disappointment of the month was, however, Die 13½ Leben des Käpt’n Blaubär by Walter Moers. Last year, I read his Die Stadt der Träumenden Bücher, which was one of my best fantasy reads of 2022. Unfortunately, Captain Bluebear was much too much exposition and explanation for its 700 pages - I simply felt exhausted in the end. Actually, the book was very much like Perdido Street Station - extremely interesting with so many miraculous and bizarre things but ultimately severely flawed.